Ain't No Rest For No One

Most of us are probably aware of the popular song, "Ain't no rest for the wicked", which uses the idea that people lose integrity to support their families. But why? Movies like Aladdin, Fun with Dick and Jane, or Oliver Twist all seem to show moments of desperation in which morals may fall out of line in trying to maintain or improving your livelihood; but, each of us, go through the process of trying to securing a nest bed where we are able to come home every night and take care of our families. This isn't unique to the people Ever since man has existed this has been part of our lives and sometimes it becomes very bleak. For families with growing debt, dead-end jobs, or other situations which amplify the problem of provision, what are the real options?

It is a tough situation for anyone, not just a few people here and there. It's hard to truly prepare for situations you can't predict. It's not like you can quit your job when it isn't meeting your expectations or use all your money to pay off your debt. The need for food each day, rent each month, and other payments which take away from your salary leave you living paycheck to paycheck. This leaves the moral dilemma of how to handle these situations. Two sides of the argument include providing for your family by any means is appropriate or the converse that this is never appropriate because you are taking from others.

"A man does not come to the almshouse or the jail by the tyanny of fate or circumstance, but by the pathway of groveling thoughts and base desires. Nor does a pure-minded man fall suddenly into crime by stress of mere external force; the criminal thought had long been secretly fostered in the heart, and the hour of opportunity revealed its gathered power. Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself." -James Allen

Every situation is different and there doesn't seem to be an easy fix. People make choices and you have to decide what is right for your family within the constraints that you have. These are morals which we resolve to keep throughout our lives. We need to understand our choices and just do the best we can do. As little as it may help in the end, everything is based on our character. This, in my opinion, is where we should start first.